Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-01-15
THE THIMBLE.
Curious and Interesting Things About
it That Are Not Gen.
orally Known.

New York Sun.
"There is rich family of the name
of Lofting in England" said dealer
in fancy articles, "the fortune of
whose house was founded by such an
apparently insignificant little thing as
the thimble. Two hundred yearsago
thimbles were unknown in England.
The thimble is claimed by the Dutch
as an invention of that country, but
it is known now that it was in use by
the silk embroiderers of China humid
reds of years before it was used else
where. The first thimble ever seen
in England was made in London less
than 200 years ago by metal worker
named John Lofting, the founder Of
the family named. The usefulness of
the article commended it at once to
all who used the needle, and Lofting
acquired large fortune and great
fame in the manufacture of the new
accessory to the needle-worker's art.
The implement was called the thumb
bell, it being worn on the thumb
when in use. This clumsy mode Of
utilizing it was soon changed, how
ever, but when and why the name
thimble was given the article does
not appear. Lettings thimbles, and
in fact, all thimbles, were made either
of iron or brass, and specimens of
them extant, many of which are pre-
served as heirlooms, are crude and
clumsy looking things compared with
the commonest thimble of to-day, al
though their cost was many times as
much.
"To-day, gold, silver, iron, ivory,
steel, sometimes glass and even pearl
and celluloid are utilized in making
thilnbles. Since art needle-work be-
came the fashionable craze in this
country, thimbles of most elaborate
workmanship and great value, to ac-
company the rich and costly i'm
plements and materials wealthy
neelder-workers affect have found q
large sale. Solid gold thimbles, ele-
gantly carved and frequently set with
diamonds, have been found none too
good for many of our fashionable
home decorations. Thimbles to be
made to order, with the monogram
or initials of the person for whom
they are intended set in precious
stones, are not by an means unknown
objets dart, in the fashioning OF
which the skill of our artistic metal
workers is taxed. | know a rich
young lady of this town whose en-
thusiasm for art needle-Work was SO
great a year ago that nothing but a
gold and diamond set thimble that
cost 800, with other embroidering
implements to match, would enable
her to reproduce those fearful and
wonderful buttercups, daisies, and
bluebells that one sees blooming in
such prodigal profusiOn on fOotstools
banners, tides and bureau covers in
all homes of culture and refinement.
SIN China the ladies of high class
are very dainty of their thimbles
Some are carved from enormous
pearls, with bands of fine gold, or
which are engraved all sorts of fan
tastic things, the etchings of which
serve for catching the needle as thu
holes of the outside barbarian thin
bles do. The thimble always has q
mother-pearl case. With the thimblc
the Chinese lady always has delicate
pair of scissors of the finest steel, in {
sheath of pearl, and a pearl needle
case. The articles are all inclOsed il
an eXquisitely inlaid case ofthe pures
mother-Ot-pearl. a New York lady
whose husband was in the Chin;
10. 49,. 4 -. II -